Clutch control mechanism, particularly for record card controlled tabulating machines



Dec. 5, 1933. F. s. s. ENGLISH 1,938,220

CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM, PARTICULARLY FOR RECORD CARD CONTROLLED TABULATING MACHINES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. G. ENGLISH 1,938,220

CARD CONTROLLED TABULATING MACHINES Flled Jan. 11, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 5, 1933. s

CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM, PARTICULARLY FOR RECORD 1,938,220 PARTICULARLY FOR RECORD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H 3 m m L G N u E a m G m F. m

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 c ,f as t CLUTCH CONTROL MEonAmsM, PARTICU- LARLY FOR aacoan cam) CONTROLLED -.=TABULATING MACHINES Francis Guy ,Sydenham Elma. was attan,

England, assignor to'The' Accounting & Tabulating'Corporation of Great Britain Limited,

London; England mama; January. 11, 1633, sci-n1 Nb. 651,201, I f 1 and-in Great BritainuFebruary 12, 1932 9 Claims. (01. 192- 97;

This invention relates to clutch control mechanism, particularly for record card controlled tabulating machines, and has for its object to provide a form of clutch control mechanism in .which depression of a pedal causes engagement of the clutch, and subsequent depression of the same pedal causes disengagement of the'clutch, so that if the clutch is disengaged it can be engaged by depressing thepedal, whereas if they clutch is engaged it can be disengaged by de--' pressing the pedal.

The invention'is particularly applicable to record'card controlled tabulating machines but may be applied to chine.

According to the present invention clutch control mechanism comprises the --c'ombination with a spring influenced striker for the clutch of a removable stop and a hinged abutment'mounted on the striker toengage the stoma; clutch control adapted to lift the abutment and'permit clutch engagement; a latch hinged on the striker adapted to engage the stop as the abutment is lifted, and means connectingthe controlwith the latch when engaging the stop, whereby on the next operation of the control the latch releases the stop, means operable to remove thestop when soreleased to re-engage the abutment, and resetting means associated with the clutch to be' operative when the clutch is engaged, an'd'adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment to actuate the striker to disengage the clutch.

Preferably the stop is carried on a theabutment'withthe stop, which is held in position by its lever resting on the high part er;

the cam.

To this end the high part of the cam extends over the greater part of the circumference of the cam, and a brake may be provided to bring the cam'torest in the desired position. 1 v 1 Where the invention is applied to a tabulating machine; however, it is found. that no brake is necessary, since the load on the machine is slimcient to bring the cam to rest before the co-' operating lever has left the high part thereof; 1

the clutch mechanism of any ma pivotedlever and the resetting means is in "the form of aca'm cO-operatingwith this lever, means being pro-- vided whereby the cam always stops with the co-operating lever in contact with thehighest part of the cam 'wherebythe clutchis positively held out of engagement by the engagement of posite directions.

Preferably, an operative connection is provided between ,the clutch and the switch for controlling. the source .of power associated with theclutch,

this connection being such that the operator-cannot open the switch without first disengaging the clutch, cannot engage the clutch without first closing the switch. 7

The invention may be carried out in various ways, but oneconstructionaccording thereto is illustrated diagrammatically in ing drawings, in which:'-

Fig. 1 illustrates the clutch control in elevation, the parts being in the positions which they occupy when the clutchis disengaged.

Fig. 2 illustrates parts of the mechanism in the positions which they occupy when the clutch is engaged and themachine is rotating:

Fig. 3 illustrates thesame parts of the mechanism in the positions which they occupy when the clutch is engaged, but the parts are set'so the accompanymechanism a thatthe clutch will be disengaged when the cainagain engages with its co-operating lever;

Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional plan on the line' IV-IV of Figure "1"i1lustrating the connection between the clutch and the switch for the source of power assOciatedwith-the clutch;

Fig; 5 m an end elevation ofthe' switch and its associated parts,rand

Fig. 6 illustrates a form of brake mechanism for stopping :the cam in the required position.

1111 the construction illustrated inthe drawings the main shaft 1 of the machine carries a driving clutch member 2 freely mounted on the shaft and rotatablefrom a source of power. 1 The member 2fisadapted to be moved into engagement with a dflve'nclutch member not shown);secured tofltheshaft 1, the-clutchitself formingno part' of the present invention. 1 r

The-clutch member 2 is adapted to be moved along the shaft 1 into engagement with the driven clutch member by means of-a striker?) pivoted between its "ends at 4 and carrying a pin 5 'engaging with a-groove in the'clutch member 2.

A spring 5a attached to the striker 3. at '6- tends to maintain the clutch parts in engagement, the spring 5a being anchored to a fixed pin 7 carried' by the frame of the machine.

Pivoted to the'lowe'r-end'of the striker 3" on a pin-'8 is an abutment member 9 and a latch 10.

' Theniembers 9 and 10 carry downwardly projecting teeth 9a and 10a respectively of triahgularform; These teeth have one side substantially' vertical and the otherinclinedand the two vertical sides of the teeth face in op- When the clutch is out of engagement as shown a in. Figure lthe vertical face of the tooth 9a on the abutmentn ember Qbears against a stop pin J 11 carried on a lever 12 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 13, and a roll on the lower end of this lever rests on the high part of a cam 14 which is driven through the agency of the clutch. The connection between the clutch and the cam comprises a gear wheel 106 engaging with a worm on the shaft 1 and secured to a stub shaft 107 mounted in the machine frame. Also secured to the stub shaft 107 isa gear wheel 108 engaging with a gear wheel 109 attached to the cam shaft 14a.

The operative portion or high part of the cam 14 is of such a length that if the invention is applied to a tabulating machine, the cam will always come to rest in such a position that the lever 12 is resting on the high part of the cam. This will be the case in any machine where the load on the machine is sufiicient to bring it to rest within about half a revolution of the cam shaft. Where the machine is of such a character that the cam shaft would tend to go on rotating for several revolutions after the clutch is disengaged, a brake must be provided to bring the cam to rest before the lever 12 has left the high part of the cam.

Suitable brake mechanism is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein a brake drum 100 is secured to the cam shaft 14a and is provided with a operating brake shoe 101 attached to the end of a lever 102 pivoted between its ends at 103 to a bracket 104 attached to the machine frame. The upper end of the lever 104 is connected by a link 105 to the striker 3. Thus when the striker 3 moves to disengage the clutch the brake will be applied and when the striker moves to engage the clutch the brake will be removed.

Thus with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, the clutch is disengaged and through the agency of the abutmentQ which, by means of its tooth 9a is resting against the stop pin 11, the spring 5a is prevented from moving the clutch into engagement, the lever 12 carrying the stop pin 11 being held up by the cam 14.

Disposed beneath the members 9 and 10 is a horizontal knock-off shaft carrying a double lever 16, of which one arm carries a pin 1'7 which, when the clutch is out of engagement, is disposed beneath a downward projection 9b pivoted to the abutment at 90. The other end of the lever 16 carries a pin 18 disposed below a hook portion 19 carried on a;link 20. The link 20 is guided by means of a slot 21 on a pin 22 hereinafter described and the lower end of the link 20 is pivoted to an arm 23 on a cross shaft 24 which carries another arm 25 connected by means of a link 26 to a bell crank 27, to which is attached a pedal 28 for controlling the clutch.

When the pedal is in its normal position the hook portion 19 is located a short distance above the pin 18 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The latch 10 also carries a downward projection 10b pivoted to it at 100, this projection 10b being slightly longer than the corresponding projection 9b pivoted to the abutment 9, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

A spring 16a normally maintains the lever 16 in the position shown in Figure l'against a stop (not shown).

The two projections 9b and 10b are connected by a spring 29 which pulls them towards one another. Stops 9d and 10d carried by the abutment 9 and the latch 10 respectively are provided to hold the projections 91) and 10b in the positions shown in Figure 1 against the action of the spring 29. The abutment 9 and the latch 10 are also pulled downwardly by means of springs 30 which are anchored to the frame of the machine. In Figure 1 only one spring 30 is shown, the other spring being immediately behind it.

As already mentioned, Figure 1 illustrates the parts in the positions they occupy when the clutch is disengaged, In order to engage the clutch the pedal 28 is depressed against the action of a spring 20a connected to the link 20 through the intermediary of the pin 22 and anchored at its upper end on the pivot pin 4 for the striker 3. The spring 20a tends to maintain the pedal in its normal position. The depression of the pedal pulls the link 20 downwardly until the hook portion 19 engages with the pin 13. It may here be explained that the downward movement of the link 20 also moves the pin 22 downwards, thereby actuating other mechanisms which will be described later. Continued downward motion of the link 20 after engagement of its hook 19 with pin 18 causes the lever 16 to be rocked in a clockwise direction and the pin 1'7 thereon pushes up the abutment 9 through the agency of the projection 9b. The abutment 9 is raised until its tooth is clear of the stop pin 11, whereupon the striker 3 is turned in a clockwise direction by its spring 5a and causes engagement of the clutch.

This movement of the striker 3 pushes both the abutment 9 and the latch 10 over to the left in Figure 1, the inclined portion of the tooth 10a on the latch 10 riding over the stop pin 11, whereupon the spring 30 associated with the latch 10 brings the latch down on the left-hand side of the stop pin so that the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the clutch is engaged the machine commences to move and the cam 14 begins to revolve.

The lever 12 is acted upon by a spring 12a which tends to maintain it in engagement with the cam 14, but with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2 when the high part of the cam 14 leaves the lever 12, the latter cannot follow it since it is latched in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the tooth 10a on the latch 10. The machine, therefore, continues to revolve and the clutch remains in engagement. The position of the tooth 10a on the latch 10 is such as to hold the roll on the lever 12 clear of the cam 14 so that it is not struck by the latter as it revolves.

The movement of the abutment 9 and latch 10 to the left in Figs. 2 and 3 removes the projection 91) from above the pin 17 on the lever 16 and brings the projection 10b into engagement therewith, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The removal of foot pressure from the pedal 28 allows the pedal to rise again under the action of the spring 20a so as to be ready for the next operation.

In order to stop the machine by disengaging the clutch, the pedal is again depressed and the ensuing rocking movement of the lever 16 in a clockwise direction lifts the latch 10 through the agency of its projection 10%), whereby the tooth 10a on the latch 10 is removed from the stop pin 11 and the spring 12a is allowed to move the lever 12 in a clockwise direction so that the roll on its lower end comes into the path of the high part of the cam 14.

In moving over to the left the stop pin on the lever 12 by riding over the inclined surface of the tooth 9a on the abutment 9, raises the abutment to permit the pin 11 to pass to the lefthand side of the tooth 9a which immediately drops I: about its pivot to permit this.

down again. under the action of the spring 30,-.

soithat theparts assume the position shownin Flgure 3. a

When the high the again comes: round, it will move the lever: 12' over to the right.

and the stop. pin llactingon the. verticaliace.

ofthe tooth 9a will pushtheabutment 9 overto.

theflright, thereby rocking the striker-'3 in an antisclockwise" direction and .disengaging the clutch. I

The .cam. comes .to. rest with the gaging the roll on the end of the lever-12,..where-' bythe lever 12 and all the partsare maintained in the position shown in Figure vlso that the.

clutch is positively held out. The movement of the striker 3 also brought the projection Qbagain into position above the pin 17 on the lever 16, so that a sub-.

sequent depressionof the pedal: 28 will cause re-.

engagement ofthe clutch inthe manneralready described.

In certain classes of tabulating machine, means isprovided for stopping the machine on the pas sage of a specially perforated stop card, the sens-5 ing mechanismforthe stop cardbeing connected to thestopping mechanism of the machine. For example, the arm towhichthe stop card sensing pin described in Powers U. S. patent specification No. 1,245,506 is connected may-be secured to the knockoff shaft 15 so that when. a stop. cardis.

sensed, or no card is inthe machineythe shaft 15will be rocked-so as to effect disengagement of the clutch in likemanner as if the pedal 28 were depressed. v

.In such a machine; however, 'if-theicard ply becomes exhausted the machine "will stop and if the pedal 28. be depressed and there are no cards inthe machine, thesmachine-will stop.

againafter one revolution otthe cam 14.

In order to permit the machine tov run without any cards, the lever 16 may be freely mounted on theknock-offv shaft15, and an arm 32 carrying a pin 33 engaging under. the left-handend'ot. the lever-16 may be securedto the knock-oflfshaft 15'. Thus rocking of the knock-ofl' shaft l-5'by means of the stop card sensing mechanism will rock the lever 16 and stop the machine, but if the machine is started without anycards being-in it, the pedal may be held depressed, thereby holding the abutment 9 raised so that its'tooth 9aj'isclear oi the stop pin, 11 so that although the knock-off shaft" 15 will rock at each cycle of the machine due to there being no card in the machineythis rocking of the knock-oil shaft has no efiect. andlthe machine continues to run until thelpedal is released.

In order that, when the pedal 28'is held depressed in this manner the projection lllb'shall not ride up on to the pin l'lwherebythe machine would be stopped, the projection 10b is made longer than the projection 9b, so:that when the abutment 9 is held up by continued depression of the pedal, the side of the projection 10b rests against the pin lithe-projection 10b;turning -Associated with the clutch; is a switch for cutting off current from the electric motor which drives the machine. This switchis arranged to beopened or closed by theoperator, preferably by means of the pedal 28 and means are provided whereby the operator cannot, move the switch to open position without first disengaging the clutch and cannot engage the clutch without first clos ing the switch. 1

To this end the vertical link ;20; is provided with an lanti-. clockwise direction to disengage the .clutch has,

a slot .21 through which projectsa pin 22 on another. substantially .vertical link 35 of which the .upper end' is guided by means of a slot 36- on the pin S'attached to. the lower end of the striker 3.Y'I'he 22 is guided in aslot (not shown) formed in a fixed bracket 38 disposed between.

the lever 201.and link 35.... The'lowerend of the link .-35.carriesa pin 39 and-projects through a] knob 43:andthe link 35 is by means of a bracket.

44Isecured to the link 35 and betweenvthe arms of which the-switch knob 43 is held.

When theswitch 3415 closed and the clutchou depressionofithe pedal 28 first pulls the switch operating link135 down, owingtoengagement of link-20 with pin 22, the .pin 39 on its lower end passing through .the wide part of the slot 40.

:Further downwardmovement of the pedal causes the hook 19 on the upper end of the vertical'link 20 to'rockthe lever 16, therebypermitting the clutch to engage. I

The engagement of the clutch is effected by rocking the striker 3 and this movement rocks the switch operating link 35 so that the pin 39 on its end moves until it is in register with the-narrow part of the slot 40, thus holding the switchclosed;

The spring 20a is provided to return the pedal 28' to normal positiongindependentlyof the switch. The machine is stopped by again depressing the pedal 28 when the lever 16 will be rotated again, thereby permitting the cam 14' to ,movethe clutch out of engagement; The movementof'the striker l 3 to efiect this will rock the switch operating link 35 until the pin 39 on its lower end again comes opposite the widepart of the slot 40, whereupon aspring 31.pulls the switch operating link 35 upwards and opens the switch.

What 'Iclaim:is:-.-' r

t 1; Inla clutch control mechanism the combination'with. a spring influenced striker of a removable. stop and a hinged abutment mountedon'the striker to engage the stop, a clutch control adaptedto lift the. abutment and-permit clutch engages ment,qa. latch hinged on the striker adapted to engagethe stopas thetabutment is lifted and means. connecting the. control with the latch when engaging the stop; whereby on the next operation of the control the latch'releases the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released tore-engage the abutment, and resetting means associated with the clutch to be operative when the clutch is engaged, adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment, actuate the striker to disconnect the clutch.

-2. In clutch control mechanism the combina-; tion of a clutch disengaging member, means tending to hold the clutch in engagementya latch i normally holding the clutch out of engagement,

an abutment normally idle, but adapted to hold the clutchdisengaging member disconnected from a sourceofpower when the clutch is engaged, a control member, and, operative connections be-' tween the control member, and the latch and the pressed. when the clutch isdisengaged, the latch is operated'to release the clutch to permit engagement thereof,- and the abutment'is operated to hold the clutch disengaging member disconnected. 150

abutment, whereby if the control member is de- V from its source of power, whereas if the control member is depressed when the clutch is engaged the abutment is operated to release the clutch disengaging member thereby causing disengagement of the clutch and the latch is operated to hold the clutch out of engagement.

3. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker to engage the stop, a clutch control adapted to lift the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker adapted to engage the stop as the abutment is lifted and means connecting the control with the latch when engaging the stop, whereby on the next operation of the control the latch releases the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to reengage the abutment, a cam co-operating with the stop, means for driving said cam through the agency of the clutch, whereby when the stop is released the cam engages the stop and through the agency of the abutment actuates the striker to disconnect the clutch, and means whereby on disengagement of the clutch the cam is arrested with the active portion of its periphery in en gagement with the stop.

4. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker, of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker, a tooth on said abutment adapted to engage the stop, a clutch control adapted to lift the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker, a tooth on said latch, adapted to engage the stop as the abutment is lifted, and means connecting the con.- trol with the latch when engaging the stop, whereby on the next operation of the control the latch releases the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to reengage the abutment, and resetting means associated with the clutch to be operative when the clutch is engaged, adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment actuate the striker to disconnect the clutch.

5. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker, of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker, a tooth on said abutment adapted to engage the stop, a clutch control adapted to lift the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker, a tooth on said latch, adapted to engage the stop as the abutment is lifted, and means connecting the control with the latch when engaging the stop, whereby on the next operation of the control the latch releases the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to re-engage the abutment, a cam co-operating with the stop, means for driving said cam through the agency of the clutch, whereby when the stop is released the cam engages the stop and through the agency of the abutment actuates the striker to disconnect the clutch, and means whereby on disengagement of the clutch the cam is arrested with the active portion of its periphery in engagement with the stop.

6. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker, of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker to engage the stop, a control pedal, a downward projection on the abutment, a lever pivoted to the machine frame, a pin on said lever normally disposed beneath the downward projection on the abutment, an operative connection between the pedal and said pivoted lever, whereby when the pedal is depressed with the clutch out of engagement, the lever is rocked and its pin caused to raise the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker, a downward projection on the latch, means for moving the abutment and latch, when the abutment is lifted, to bring the latch into engagement with the stop and the downward projection on said latch above the pin on the pivoted lever, whereby on the next depression of the pedal the latch is raised to release the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to re-engage the abutment, and resetting means associated with the clutch to be operative when the clutch is engaged, adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment, actu ate the striker and disconnect the clutch.

7. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker, of a removable stop, and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker to engage the stop, a control pedal, a downward projection on the abutment, a lever pivoted to the machine frame, a pin on said lever normally disposed beneath the downward projection on the abutment, an operative connection between the pedal and said pivoted lever, whereby when the pedal is depressed with the clutch out of engagement, the lever is rocked and its pin caused to raise the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker, a downward projection on the latch, means for moving the abutment and latch, when the abutment is lifted, to bring the latch into engagement with the stop and the downward projection on said latch above the pin on the pivoted lever, whereby on the next depression of the pedal the latch is raised to release the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to reengage the abutment, a cam co-operating with the stop, means for driving said cam through the agency of the clutch, whereby when the stop is released the cam engages the stop and through the agency of the abutment actuates the striker to disconnect the clutch, and means whereby on disengagement of the clutch the cam is arrested with the active portion of its periphery in engagement with the stop.

8. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker to engage the stop, a clutch control member connected with lost motion to the abutment and adapted to lift the abutment and permit clutch engagement a latch hinged on the striker adapted to engage the stop as the abutment is lifted, means for establishing a lost motion connection between the control member and the latch when the latch engages the stop, whereby on the next operation of the control member the latch releases the stop, means operable to move the stop when so released to re-engage the abutment, resetting means associated with the clutch to be operative when the clutch is engaged, adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment actuate the striker to disconnect the clutch, a switch controlling the source of power associated with the clutch, a switch operating lever pivoted between its ends by a pin and slot connection to the machine frame, an operative connection between the striker and the switch operating lever whereby when the clutch is engaged or disengaged the switch operating lever rocks about its pivot, a locking device for the switch operating lever, a pin and slot connection between the control permitting said switch operating lever to engage with the locking device when said switch operating lever is rocked about its pivot due to the ensuing engagement of the clutch, means for re-- turning the control member to normal position leaving the switch operating lever locked, and means for moving the switch operating lever to open the switch when rocked clear of the locking device by disengagement of the clutch.

9. In clutch control mechanism the combination with a spring influenced striker, of a removable stop and a hinged abutment mounted on the striker to engage the stop, a control pedal, a downward projection on the abutment, a lever pivoted tothe machine frame, a pin on said lever normally disposed beneath the downward projection on theabutment, a lost motion connection between the pedal and said pivoted lever, whereby when the pedal is depressed with the clutch out of engagement, the lever is rocked and its pin caused to raise the abutment and permit clutch engagement, a latch hinged on the striker, a downward projection on the latch, means for moving the abutment and latch, when the abutment is lifted, to bring the latch into engagement with the stop and the downward projection on said latch above the pin' on the pivoted lever whereby on the next depression of the pedal, the latch is raised to release the stop, means operable to move the stop, when so released, to re-engage the abutment, resetting means associated with the clutch, to be operative when the clutch is engaged, adapted to engage the stop and through the agency of the abutment, actuate the striker and disconnect the clutch, a switch controlling the source of power associated with the clutch, a switch operating lever pivoted between its ends by a pin and slot connection to the machine frame, an operative connection between the striker and the switch op,- erating lever whereby when the clutch is engaged or disengaged the switch operating lever rocks about its pivot, a locking device for the switch operating lever, a pin and slot connection be-'- leaving the switch operating lever locked, and;

means for moving the switch operating lever to open the switch when rocked clearof the locking device by disengagement of the clutch;

FRANCIS GUY SYDENHAM ENGLISH. 

